History With Western Albemarle

Coach Mario Washington enters his 14th season coaching at his alma mater and his 5th year as Varsity Head Coach. A proud Western Albemarle graduate, he was a standout three-sport athlete and earned Male Athlete of the Year in 2006.

After graduating from Western Albemarle, Coach Washington continued his playing career at Hampden-Sydney College (2006–2010), where he competed for four years on several nationally ranked teams, and earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and finance. Following college, he served honorably in the United States Marine Corps. Upon completing his service, he returned home to Western Albemarle, where he has coached football, wrestling, and lacrosse.

Collegiate Experience

At Hampden-Sydney College, Coach Washington played for four years while completing his degree in economics and finance. His collegiate career helped shape his leadership, discipline, and commitment to the sport.

Coaching Career

Coach Washington helped lead the Western Albemarle Warriors to back-to-back state championship appearances in 2015 and 2016.

He opens the 2026 season with a 62–13 record as head coach. The Daily Progress named him the 2021 Central Virginia Coach of the Year after he guided the Warriors to a Jefferson District and Region 4A Championship. In 2024, he again led the Warriors to Jefferson District and Region 4B titles, along with a berth in the 4A State Semi-Finals. He was also named the 2024 Jefferson District and Region 4B Coach of the Year.

Over his 13-year coaching tenure at Western Albemarle, Coach Washington has developed:

64 All-State players

Six All-Americans

One Bob Scott Award recipient

Community Involvement

Beyond his high school coaching responsibilities, Coach Washington is deeply committed to youth lacrosse development in the Crozet/Western Albemarle community. He serves as a Head Coach for CavElite C/O 2029, helping foster growth, skill development, and character in young athletes across Central Virginia.

Collegiate + Coaching Career

Kip Turner coached 8 seasons with Virginia men’s lacrosse team, and coached for 13 years under at the division I level. He Helped deliver two NCAA Championships to Charlottesville in back-to-back attempts in 2019 and 2021; Turner is regarded as one of the most respected goalie and faceoff coaches in the nation.

In addition to leading the Cavaliers to back-to-back national champions as an assistant coach, Turner anchored the 2006 Virginia squad to the program’s fourth NCAA title as the team’s starting netminder and defensive MVP. As UVA’s assistant coach, Turner has also mentored the likes of Justin Schwenk, Alex Rode, Jared Conners and Petey LaSalla. At Brown, Turner helped develop All-Ivy League goalies Matt Chriss and Will Round, as well as a slew of young goalkeepers on the Bears squad. Turner also was the face-off coach for the Bears, developing Will Gural into one of the top face-off men in the nation in 2015 and 2016.

Turner also practiced his trade in the professional ranks, including leading the Chesapeake Bayhawks to two consecutive MLL Championships in 2012 and 2013. Turner was originally selected second overall in the Major League Lacrosse draft by the Boston Cannons, the highest goalie ever picked in a draft. He made an immediate impact, being named the Cannons’ Defensive MVP in 2008. A three-time MLL Defensive Player of the Week in 2010, Turner was named the MLL Goalkeeper of the Year for his outstanding play. Turner was also selected the starting goalie in the MLL All-Star game in 2013.

After a nine-year stint in the MLL, Turner decided to retire in the spring of 2016. A 2007 graduate of the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in government, Turner was a four-year letterwinner for the Cavaliers. He was a USILA Third Team All-American and the UVA defensive MVP in 2006, leading the undefeated Cavaliers to the ACC Championship and NCAA title. Turner was a First Team All-ACC selection and USILA All-American Honorable Mention in 2007 and named to the All-ACC Tournament Team in 2006 and 2007. Turner was inducted into the Severn High School Hall of Fame in the spring of 2016 for his achievement in soccer, ice hockey and lacrosse.